KJZZ's Sun Up is a weekday morning podcast giving you the Arizona news you need to start your day. It is the biggest stories of the day from KJZZ News.
Transcript
ANNOUNCER: KJZZ's Sun Up is supported by Banner Health, Arizona's largest non-profit healthcare system. Last year, Banner reinvested more than $1.1 billion in community health and charity care. Banner Health, non-profit for Arizona. BannerHealth.com/nonprofitforAZ.
PHIL LATZMAN: Hey, we've made it to Friday. Yeah, this is KJZZ's Sun Up, your daily news update from here in Phoenix on our state and region. I'm Phil Latzman, and we bring you this podcast, a daily digest of Arizona news reported by our KJZZ news team. Yeah, we have made it. Happy Juneteenth on this Friday, as we head into this holiday weekend. June 19, of course, the date. And let's get right to it.
Well, a state appeals court paused a lower court order that gave Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap a legal victory over the Board of Supervisors in their election fight. The judges expressed concerns it would cause confusion ahead of this year's elections. From the politics team, Wayne Schutsky has the latest.
WAYNE SCHUTSKY: In April, Judge Scott Blaney ordered the board to restore Heap's information technology team. He also attempted to clarify who controls different election duties under state law, which divides those responsibilities between county supervisors and recorders. But the ruling did little to resolve the conflict, as Heap and the board continued to spar over ballot drop boxes and other election administration duties in the days before the upcoming July 21 primary. The Court of Appeals paused the ruling, finding it likely violates the Purcell principle. That's a Supreme Court precedent that says courts should not make major changes to the law immediately before elections in order to avoid causing confusion for voters and election workers. Wayne Schutsky, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: Well, former Arizona TV anchor Kari Lake said in a confirmation hearing on Thursday that she'll help dismantle crime and improve business relations as the U.S. ambassador to Jamaica. Also from our politics desk, here's Camryn Sanchez, who is watching that.
CAMRYN SANCHEZ: Lake ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022 and Senate in 2024. President Trump then appointed her to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, where she implemented massive layoffs at Voice of America. A court ruled all of Lake's actions void in March because she was never confirmed by the Senate. Now, Trump has tapped her to be the country's representative in Jamaica. Lake says she'll improve American business relations there.
KARI LAKE: Actually, a company in — in Utah, Backcountry, does the outfitting for that team, the Jamaican bobsled team, which I think is very cool. I mean, we — we definitely want big projects, but we want to encourage all kinds of American businesses to invest in Jamaica.
CAMRYN SANCHEZ: Lake told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that she's vacationed in Jamaica too many times to count. Democrats pressed her about her role at USAGM, where Lake says she's still deputy CEO. Camryn Sanchez, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: Arizona's attorney general has pledged millions of dollars from opioid settlement funds to support reentry programs for incarcerated individuals. Kathy Ritchie has details on that.
KATHY RITCHIE: Kris Mayes announced the state will distribute $10 million to five Arizona county sheriffs' offices. Each will receive $2 million to help strengthen and expand their existing reentry programs. These programs help individuals transition back into their communities after they leave jail. In a statement, Mayes said these funds will, quote, "give Arizonans a real shot at recovery, stability, and a second chance." The five counties in line to receive funds include Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai. Kathy Ritchie, KJZZ News, Prescott.
PHIL LATZMAN: Well, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will issue a new type of advisory about consuming fish caught in some parts of the state. As Greg Hahne reports, that's because recent data indicates higher levels of PFAS, or forever chemicals.
GREG HAHNE: The advisories fall under three categories: safe to follow standard EPA and FDA guidelines, limited consumption, and do not eat. As the second contaminant the state will be monitoring alongside mercury, PFAS have been linked to cancer and other health problems. While the department's map doesn't currently list any PFAS advisories, they could start in the next few weeks. Erin Jordan with ADEQ is overseeing the program.
ERIN JORDAN: It's really to empower our anglers out in the community, give them those decision-making tools to determine what they want to eat from what they catch in our environment.
GREG HAHNE: Jordan says the early data results are showing some fish with do not eat levels, but did not say which lake that fish came from. Greg Hahne, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: On another political news, the Arizona Attorney General's Office has asked a judge to dismiss charges against the state's so-called fake electors, but prosecutors indicate they don't actually plan to drop the case. Here once again is Wayne Schutsky with that.
WAYNE SCHUTSKY: Two years ago, an Arizona grand jury indicted over a dozen elected officials and other Republicans for allegedly trying to undermine Democrat Joe Biden's victory over President Trump in the state's 2020 presidential election. But after more than a year in court, a judge sent the case back to a grand jury, finding prosecutors failed to adequately explain the defendants' legal theory. Attorney General Kris Mayes appealed that decision, but the State Supreme Court declined to take the case earlier this month, which triggered a 15-day deadline to bring the case back to the grand jury. Prosecutors say they can't meet that deadline due to the complexity of the case, but they still plan to present a new case to a grand jury at a later date. Wayne Schutsky, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: In the Tonto National Forest, the Sycamore Fire is burning at a little over 3,000 acres with 0% containment. A section of the forest and the Salt River Canyon is under emergency closure from now until July. Taylor Griffith has more.
TAYLOR GRIFFITH: The fire was sparked by a lightning strike on Monday. Amanda Oliver with the U.S. Forest Service says there's no threat to nearby communities, but crews are monitoring a section of private land within the forest. To protect the public and firefighters, the Forest Service has closed a broad area.
AMANDA OLIVER: It kind of starts from the 60 and where Jones Water Campground is, which is on the Globe Ranger District, and runs a few miles south of there before it turns up into the forest itself.
TAYLOR GRIFFITH: Oliver says U.S. 60 remains open, and any updates on fire-related road closures will come through ADOT. Taylor Griffith, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: In a debate of GOP candidates on Wednesday, Congressman David Schweikert said he's the only one who can beat Gov. Katie Hobbs because he has the experience winning competitive races. He accused his opponent, Andy Biggs, of being in the pocket of Turning Point USA's political arm. Schweikert appealed to Republican voters, noting that Turning Point candidates have not been successful in statewide elections.
DAVID SCHWEIKERT: My friend at the end, I know this is tough with us running against each other, but when you're wholly owned by Turning Point, and you've lost election, and lost election, and lost election, it puts everything in our future at risk.
PHIL LATZMAN: Biggs, a fellow congressman, painted himself as bipartisan and touted his experience as working with multiple Democrats in Washington.
A second lawsuit has now been filed against the city of Phoenix alleging its new park ordinance violates the Constitution. The city's ordinance bans the distribution of food and medical care in city parks without a permit. Connor Greenwall has the latest on that.
CONNOR GREENWALL: Last week, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in favor of a local church ministry against the city of Phoenix. The temporary restraining order only applies to St. Herman's Table and expires after two weeks. A second lawsuit by Circle the City also claims the city's ordinance violates the First Amendment. The organization is seeking a broader order to allow all organizations to distribute aid. Circle the City says Phoenix's restrictions are unconstitutional and effectively cuts off services altogether. It says urgent action is needed to provide critical medical care and food to those in need. Connor Greenwall, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: A coalition in Arizona is working to advance the study of arts and brain health and wellness. Jill Ryan has a closer look.
JILL RYAN: The term neuro-arts refers to an emerging field of study that centers on how creating or engaging with art affects the brain and body. The Arizona Community Neuroarts Coalition, headed by the Flinn Foundation, is taking inventory on programs that merge both the arts and health in the state. Tammy McLeod is the CEO of the Flinn Foundation.
TAMMY MCLEOD: It is a concept that has been known for centuries, but that is just finally been labeled and—and given a name and, hopefully, a common vocabulary so that we all know what we're talking about.
JILL RYAN: Examples of these kinds of programs include Banner Health's choir for people living with memory loss, or U of A's Arizona Arts RX, which prescribes arts experiences for people experiencing anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Jill Ryan, KJZZ News, Phoenix.
PHIL LATZMAN: In sports, our local teams who are off on Thursday, in baseball, Diamondbacks are back home tonight. They'll host the Minnesota Twins. Arizona's won three of four, they're nine and a half back of the Dodgers in the National League West. They're a half-game back of the final wildcard spot as they start play. Basketball, the struggling Mercury off until tomorrow, they'll try to stop a four-game losing string hosting the Seattle Storm. They've lost 12 of their first 16 games this season.
And that does it for this edition of KJZZ's Sun Up, that's Arizona's morning news podcast. This Friday, June 19. I'm Phil Latzman. Enjoy the holiday Friday, have a great weekend, and we'll do this again on Monday. Talk to you then.
